How House Works

Daikin E5: compressor overload, wording by model

By How House Works EditorialBased on Daikin manualsChecked against sources Updated

Daikin remote controller display

E5

“OL (COMPRESSOR OVERLOAD) STARTED”

FTXM-WVJU9 · FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50
Technician

On this model the high pressure switch has its own code, E3 (FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50). The service manual calls E5 “OL activation (compressor overload)” and marks it “Displayed only when system-down occurs” (FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 96).

What it means

E5 is the compressor overload (OL) code. The FTXM-W/V service manual says: “A compressor overload is detected through compressor OL.” If E5 repeats, the system shuts down, and it resets after about 60 minutes of continuous running without any other error FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 113. The service table marks E5 “Displayed only when system-down occurs” FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 96.

What E5 covers depends on the model, so check the table for your series:

  • FTXM-WVJU9: overload only. The high pressure switch has its own code, E3 FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50.
  • FTXQ-ASBU9: E5 also covers the high pressure switch, and there is no E3. The line ends with an asterisk, and the page prints no text for it FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 28.
  • FTX/FTXN-NMVJU and FTXS30/36: “OL STARTED” FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual, p. 30; FTXS30/36 Operation Manual, p. 36.
  • FTX/FTK-BXVJU: the owner’s poster says “Compressor motor lock / compressor overload” FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual, p. 1, section 9. Its service manual words it differently. Table 4.1 has one E5 line for class 18/24, compressor overload, and one for class 09/12, overload or high pressure switch; compressor lock is E6 FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006, pp. 57, 70, 72.
  • The remote manuals print “COMPRESSOR MOTOR LOCK/COMPRESSOR OVERLOADED” BRC52B Remote Controller Manual, p. 1-3; BRC51D61 Wired Remote Controller Manual, p. 11. The AXVJU service manual says “COMPRESSOR OVERLOAD” AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1, p. 34.

Check these first

The owner’s manuals have no step written for E5 itself:

  1. Check that the OPERATION lamp blinks at about 0.5-second intervals and read the code, as described in the Daikin code guide FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 49; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 27.
  2. Turn off the power with the circuit breaker, then restart with the remote controller FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 46; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, p. 24; FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual, p. 27. If you stopped the unit yourself, the manual’s caution is to wait at least 5 minutes after stopping before turning off the power, or water may leak FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 4. After the breaker goes on, allow about 3 to 10 minutes before the unit runs FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 47.
  3. Watch the lamp. E5 is one of the “Other error codes” in the FTXM-WVJU9 and FTXQ-ASBU9 charts: if the lamp stays lit after the unit has run for a while, keep using it; if it blinks again, turn off the circuit breaker and call your dealer FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, pp. 49–50; FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual, pp. 27–28.

FTXS30/36 owners have the general steps for a flashing lamp, ending with a call to the service shop FTXS30/36 Operation Manual, p. 34. The FTX/FTK-BXVJU poster says to call your local dealer or serviceman if the fault persists FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual, p. 1, section 10.

When to call a licensed technician

The FTXM-W/V service manual lists these causes for E5 FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 113:

  • a disconnected or defective discharge pipe thermistor;
  • connector S40 disconnected, the two OL terminals disconnected, a defective OL, or a broken OL harness;
  • a defective electronic expansion valve or coil, or a defective four way valve or coil;
  • a defective outdoor unit PCB or a defective stop valve;
  • refrigerant shortage, or water mixed in the refrigerant.

The FTX-W manual gives the same list FTX-W Service Manual SiUS042228E, p. 84, and the AXVJU manual’s two E5 pages list most of the same causes AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1, pp. 40–41. E5 sits in the OUTDOOR UNIT group of the owner’s tables FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual, p. 50, and the service manual warns that the outdoor unit’s step-up capacitor must be discharged before repair work FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA, p. 3. Refrigerant shortage and water in the refrigerant are refrigerant circuit work, for a technician certified under EPA Section 608.

Related Daikin codes

  • E6 “FAULTY COMPRESSOR START UP”
  • E3 “HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH (HPS) ACTIVATED”
  • F3 “HIGH TEMPERATURE DISCHARGE PIPE CONTROL”

See also

Other ductless mini-splits: Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, MrCool

All Daikin codes

Daikin is a trademark of its owner. How House Works is not affiliated with or endorsed by Daikin.

Sources

  1. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXM-WVJU9 Operation Manual. 3P686871-1A, page stamp 2022/05/30; covers FTXM09/12/18/24WVJU9. Listed under ATMOSPHERA in Daikin's document library.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  2. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXQ-ASBU9 Operation Manual. 3P741457-13J, English; page stamp 2024/11/19; covers FTXQ09ASBU9 and FTXQ12ASBU9. Listed under OTERRA 115V. The library list shows only the French and Spanish files of this manual; the English file is served at this address.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  3. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX/FTXN-NMVJU Operation Manual. 3P379751-4C, page stamp 11/6/2015; covers FTX09/12/15/18/24NMVJU and FTXN09/12/18/24NMVJU. Not in Daikin's current library list; the file is still served from daikincomfort.com.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  4. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXS30/36 Operation Manual. 3P228444-4K, page stamp 3/28/2013; covers FTXS30HVJU, FTXS36HVJU, FTXS30LVJU and FTXS36LVJU. Not in Daikin's current library list; the file is still served from daikincomfort.com.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  5. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX/FTK-BXVJU Operation Manual. 3P601789-2 E (cover label); no printed date; covers FTX, FTXB and FTK09/12/18/24BXVJU; R410A. A poster with one page per language (English, Spanish, French) and no page numbers: citations give PDF page 1 and the poster section. The same file is also listed under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  6. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). BRC52B Remote Controller Manual. OM-BRC52B-0617(2)-DAIKIN USA, Part No. R08019046595B; print stamp 10/30/2017; covers remote controllers BRC52B61/62/63/64/65. Does not name the indoor units. The library lists it under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  7. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). BRC51D61 Wired Remote Controller Manual. R08019049297B; print stamp 7/12/2022. Does not name the indoor units. The library lists it under OTERRA (cooling only) and ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  8. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTXM-W/V Service Manual SiUS042113EA. SiUS042113EA, revision of 01/2023; covers FTXM09/12/18/24WVJU9 and FTXM-VVJU with RXM outdoor units. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  9. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTK-B/FTX-B Service Manual DAMA-SM-23-006. DAMA-SM-23-006, first edition 04/2023; covers FTK09/12/18/24BXVJU and FTX09/12/18/24BXVJU with RK/RX-BXVJU outdoor units. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  10. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). AXVJU Service Manual SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1. SM-5WM-Y-NA-B1; no printed date (PDF created 2021-09-29); covers FTKB/FTKN/FTXB/FTXN09/12/18/24AXVJU. Listed under ENTRA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.
  11. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America (document library). FTX-W Service Manual SiUS042228E. SiUS042228E, first edition 10/2022; covers FTX30/36WVJU9 with RK30/36WMVJU9 or RX30/36WMVJU9. Listed under POLARA.. Accessed Oct 13, 2026.